known to exist. Unfortunately it is imperfect at the end. Bought by Earl Spencer for 215l. 5s.

No. 6361. The right pleasaunt and goodlie Historye of the Four Sonnes of Aimon, fol. red mor. Caxton, 1554."

Bought by Mr Heber for 551. “No. 6376. The Lyfe of Vergilius, with wood cuts, rare, 4to.'

Bought by the Marquis of Blandford for 541. 12s.

"No. 6377. The Storye of Frederyke of Jennen, with wood cuts, 1518."

Bought by Mr Triphook for 651. 2s. "No. 6378. The Story of Mary of Nemegen, with wood cuts, 1518." Bought by Mr Triphook for 671. The day's sale amounted to 50351. 7s. Earl Spencer was the competitor with the Marquis of Blandford, the fortunate purchaser, for the Decameron of Boccacio. The Marquis proposed starting with five guineas, but Lord Spencer put it in at 100l. When the Marquis bid the last 10l. Lord S. said, “ I bow to you." The engagment was very fierce, and at its termination there was a general huzza! Presently after, the Marquis offered his hand to Lord S., saying, "We are good friends still?" His Lordship replied, "Perfectly-indeed, I am obliged to you." "So am I to you," said the Marquis, "therefore the obligation is mutual."

He declared that it was his intention to have gone as far as 5000l. Before, he was possessed of a copy of the same edition, but it wanted five leaves; " for which five leaves," as Lord S. observed, " he might be said to have given 22601." It is not true, as was reported, that Mr Nornaville was employed to purchase books at this sale for Bonaparte.

13th.-EDINBURGH.-Borthwick Castle was, on Friday, sold by authority of the Court of Session.This remarkable edifice was built in 1430, by the first Lord Borthwick, and is acknowledged to be the most entire and magnificent specimen in Scotland of the mansion of a feudal baron. We trust the purchaser will preserve this object of national curiosity from the decay to which, from having been

long out of the family, it has been exposed.

As

A singular and very beautiful phenomenon was observed here on Saturday seʼennight, at 20 minutes past eight in the evening. The air was still, and the frith of Forth as smooth as glass; scarcely any clouds were visible in the sky, except a large, dense, well-defined one, which, with the exception of a few tinges of red and yellow on its lower edges, was quite black and dismal, and obstructed the rays of the setting sun, some gentlemen were amusing themselves, by contemplating from the ramparts of the castle the truly sublime scene with which that fortress is surrounded, a wedge-shaped mass of bright light, with its point turned towards the spectators, was observed by them to extend itself a considerable way over the frith, from the opposite shore. This mass of light soon increased in length, and at the same time became wider towards the apex, till in less than half a minute it had entirely stretched across the water, and was perfectly cylindrical, forming as complete a bridge of fire as can well be conceived. In breadth it was considerably greater than the apparent diameter of the sun usually is, when seen near the horizon in a somewhat hazy evening; but its brightness was at least equal to the splendour of the solar orb at noonday. No beam of sunshine was visi ble in any other part of the landscape, and the large dense cloud which obscured the scene, and was directly beyond the luminous bridge, was as black as pitch. In this state things remained for 15 or 20 seconds, when the mass of light or fire seemed to diminish in breadth at the further end, and became shorter and shorter, till in 20 seconds more it was a luminous spot like the sun, on this side

of the frith, where it entirely vanished. At one time, a tree in the land scape was interposed betwixt the eye and the fiery bridge, and seemed beautifully prejected upon it, half way across the frith.

On Saturday last, a young man belonging to a party of the artillery, at present recruiting at Kelso, went to bathe in the Tweed, near the foot of St James's Green, when, going beyond his depth, and being unable to swim, he was unfortunately drowned. His name is John Graham. A companion who was with him, and who endeavoured to save him, narrowly escaped the same fate.

In making some repairs on a house in Montrose last week, there was found in the wall, a silver coin of the Emperor Gordianus. On the face is a head of the emperor, with a radiated crown, and the legend IMP. GORDIANUS PIUS-on the reverse, a female figure and LAETITIA AUG-N.

Saturday morning, a man was discovered hanging on a tree, near to Newton church, four miles south of Edinburgh. He was quite dead, and it is supposed, had committed this rash act in a fit of insanity. He was a plaisterer by profession, and unmarried.

The following is considered a singular circumstance :-A thrush, which for four years past has built her nest in the garden of Mr Anthony Thompson, at St Bees, has this year changed her residence, but not quitted the premises. She has taken up her abode in a bottle rack, and built her nest in the cavity of a bottle bottom! This her cottage is not more than a couple of yards from a back door, through which one or other of the family are frequently passing. The thrush is at present in the quiet state of incubation, and so familiarized to

her old friends and protectors, as to suffer them to stroak her back, whilst she feeds off their hands with the greatest composure.

14th.- -NIGHTLY WATCH.--A bill for the better regulation of the nightly watch in Westminster, and the vicinity of the metropolis, is now in its progress through parliament. It provides, among other things, that the number of watchmen in every parish shall be in the proportion of one to every 60 houses, and that there shall be one patrole to every twelve watchmen: the watchmen to have their regular beats, and the patroles to perambulate the parish, superintend the watchmen, inspect the alehouses and the state of the lamps, and report upon these and all other occurrences of the night to the constables at the watch house, where they are to be entered in a book to be kept for that purpose. Another clause provides for the division of the night into two watches, and that one half of the watchmen shall be on duty in each watch, which they are to take alternately: the hours of watching in the winter months to be not later than from eight in the evening to seven in the morning; in the spring and au tumn, from nine in the evening to six in the morning; and in the summer from nine to five. A copy of the book of entries kept at the watch-house to be transmitted every morning to the police-office of the district; and abstracts of all such reports to be made out at least once a week, and transmitted to the head office in Bowstreet. The bill also authorises the Secretary for the Home Department to divide the whole of the parishes to which it extends into eight districts, and to assign each of such districts to one of the police offices established by the act of the 32d of the king; which

offices shall every night send round one or more of their principal officers to superintend and report upon the conduct of the constables and watchmen. A person to be appointed at Bow-street, with a salary of 2001. ayear, for the purpose of digesting and arranging the reports and abstracts from the different parishes, and transmitting the same to the Secretary of State's office. Another clause precludes police officers from receiving any reward on conviction of offenders, by act of parliament; but to be rewarded at discretion of magistrates, for their activity and vigilance. Magistrates authorised to cause the execution of search-warrants for stolen goods, by night as well as by day. The act of the 51st of the king, for the more effectual administration of the office of justice of the peace for Middlesex and Surrey, to be extended to the city of London and its liberties. The number of every hackney-coach to be painted on the pannel.

16th.-Saturday nine men were put on shore at Sandgate, out of a schooner which had picked them up at sea, they having made their escape from the prison of Verdun, which they effected by means of working through the common sewer. The original number which escaped in this way from the prison was 48, but on their arrival at the sea-shore, which they accomplished in safety, and where they had procured a boat for their purpose, they were surrounded by a guard of soldiers; in this extremity they attempted to defend themselves with some tomahawks which they had found in the boat. In the contest 12 of them were shot, 27 made prisoners, and nine made their escape, although every one of them was wounded. Those who were ta

VOL. V. PART II.

ken prisoners, it is feared, will suffer severely for their conduct. Some of them have been in prison since the commencement of the war, having been taken in a letter of marque called the Neptune. One of them was a part owner of this vessel, and belongs to Shields; he has received a wound in the leg.

On Wednesday se'ennight was committed, at the Town-hall, Plymouth, by the Rev. Mr Justice Williams, James Gilson, first mate of the Queen transport, for the wilful murder of Patrick Fitzgerald, a boy about fourteen years of age, during a voyage to Port Mahon, in January last. This murder seems to have been of the most unprovoked description. During their voyage, a signal was made to the transport, by the convoying ship, to carry more sail, which was answered by the former; but in lowering the pennant it became entangled in the main stays, and Fitzgerald was ordered by Gilson to proceed aloft in order to clear it. Fitz. gerald, unused to the sea, did not execute the task so quickly as Gilson wished, in consequence of which he was directed to stand on the main top-gallant yard for several hours, by way of punishment. The weather at this time being peculiarly inclement, the boy, terrified by his situation, and shivering with cold, cried most bitterly, when Gilson went up himself with a rope to beat him; but the boy, in endeavouring to avoid him, lost his hold, fell into the sea, and was drowned, without any effort being permitted to be made by Gilson to save his life, either by lowering a boat, or putting the helm about. Gilson is to take his trial at the next Admiralty sessions.

charged Jeffery, bookseller, on Saturday, at this office, with assaulting him on Friday, in Pall-mall. It appeared in evidence, that the prosecutor was in company with Lord Spen. cer, walking along Pall-mall, when Jeffery assailed him with the most affronting language, telling him he was a pretty fellow to be a privy counsellor, &c. He also upbraided the noble lord in company with Mr Tierney, for walking with him. The prosecutor, to avoid the defendant's company, attempted to enter a shop in Pall-mall; but the defendant got betwixt him and the door, and put himself in an attitude a-la-Belcher, and prevented it. It appeared, that Jeffery pretended the prosecutor had attempted to injure him in trade, but Mr Tierney disclaimed such attempt, and added, on the contrary, that he had even recommended him. Mr Tierney observed, he had not the slightest animosity towards the defendant, but he must insist on his finding sureties. The defendant was held in bail to keep the peace, himself in 2001. and two sureties in 501. each.

SINGULAR PHENOMENON.-On the 1st of May, an awful and singular phenomenon presented itself, to the great alarm and consternation of the inhabitants of the island of Barbadoes, of which the following is an ac

count.

Barbadoes, May 2.-Yesterday morning at four o'clock, the atmosphere was perfectly clear and light, but at six, thick clonds had covered the horizon, from whence issued, in torrents like rain, and particles finer than sand, volcanic matter; and at eight, it was as totally dark as we ever recollect to have seen the most stormy night. It then became necessary to procure lights, not only in the dwellings of families, but lanterns

were obliged to be used in passing from one part of the street to another. On the preceding night it however seems that many persons heard sounds like those which follow the discharging of cannon, and some go so far as to say, that they clearly observed the flashes to leeward of us, the same as if vessels were engaged at sea; therefore, as these clouds came from the northward, it is much to be dreaded that some one of the neighbouring islands has experienced the dismal effects of a volcanic eruption. This awful state of darkness continued until 20 minutes past 12 at noon, when the glimmerings of Heaven's light were gradually perceptible, and about one o'clock it was so far clear as to be compared with that of about seven in the evening. The eruptive matter, however, still continued, and, as was the case during the whole time of its descent, numerous flocks of exotic birds were heard warbling the melancholy note of croaking, as if they were messengers of past or presages of future evil. We shall, in common with our fellow inhabitants, feel extremely anxious for arrivals from the neighbouring islands; should these fortunately have escaped any convulsion of the earth, this phenomenon will form a subject of much philosophical interest and learned discussion. To describe the feeling that pervaded the community, during this awful period, is impossible—it is far more easy to be conceived; many considered it as an infliction of that Almighty wrath which was denounced against the Israelites of old, as we are informed in holy writ :"The Lord shall make the rain of the land powder and dust; from Heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed;" which was still further impressed by the follow

ing passage. "And thou shalt grope at noon-day, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways." It was, in short, a scene that can never be obliterated from the memory, and it may at least have some good effect, that of strengthening the believer in his ideas of Omnipotence, as well as producing in the mind of the disbeliever (should there unhappily be one among us) à conviction of the error of his ways. The sandy particles appear to have fallen, in this neighbourhood, to the depth of about three quarters of an inch; but in the north part of the island they are said to be considerably deeper.

The armed ship Emma arrived this day at noon, informs that, when 30 miles to the eastward of Point Saline, Martinique, early yesterday morning, a dreadful explosion was heard, and the vessel was shortly afterwards completely enveloped in clouds of the same kind of matter as above stated; and this was also experienced by the schooner Peggy, from Dominica, which also states that total darkness prevailed from two o'clock yesterday morning until three in the afternoon. Extract of a letter from Barbadoes, dated 5th May, 1812, to a mercantile house in Greenock.

"We can scarcely see to write for dust, and have not time, by this opportunity, to give a full account of the most awful phenomenon that ever was witnessed here, which happened on the 1st instant. We were in utter darkness from half past six in the morning till half past 12 in the after noon, during which time, and the remainder of the day, a great quantity of dust was showered upon us from the heavens, which has covered the island at least one inch thick. The country is melancholy, and unless we

have rain, there is no saying what will become of our live stock."

17th.-THE PITT CLUB, LONDON. -The celebration of the anniversary of this great and illustrious statesman, (postponed from the 28th ult. on account of the gloom and horror which so universally pervaded the public mind in consequence of the atrocious murder of the lamented Mr Perceval), took place yesterday at the London Tavern.-The discussion in the House of Commons upon the important question of the orders in council, necessarily prevented the attendance of many members of that hon. house on this occasion; notwithstanding which, however, near four hundred noblemen and gentlemen of the first rank and consequence in the state were present. Mr Inglis was in the chair. The Lord Chancellor was on his right, the Earl of Liverpool on his left, the Duke of Montrose, Lords Camden, Buckinghamshire, Bathurst, Sidmouth, and many other noble peers, on both sides. An excellent military band attended, and continued to play during the evening.

After a most excellent dinner, Nom nobis Domine was sung in the first style of excellence, by Messrs Keate, Dignum, and several other singers of high professional repute. The following toasts were then given from the chair:

"The King," with three times three-drank with universal and reiterated bursts of applause.

SONG." God save the King," TOAST." The Prince Regent,' with three times three. This toast was drank with enthusiastic cheers, which continued some minutes. There were nine distinct rounds of applause, which were followed by repeated huzzas and waving of handkerchiefs from every part of the company.

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